Multi Tool Stand for Digital Device Method and Apparatus

ABSTRACT

A multi tool with a handle arranged along a longitudinally aligned axis. The handle has a first end and a second end and a housing for containing a first tool. The multi tool also has a prop which interoperates with the first handle and provides stability against overturning of the multi tool when supporting a device. The multi tool also has a mount which is interoperable with either the handle or the prop. The mount will maintain a device in an upright position.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/841,950 filed Jul. 22, 2010 (now U.S. Pat. No. 8,726,439), whichclaims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/230,493 filedJul. 31, 2009. Both of the aforementioned applications are incorporatedherein by reference in their entireties.

BACKGROUND

U.S. Pat. No. 5,390 885 discloses a locking mechanism for a portabletripod of a “Q-Pad” which has a casing assembly jointly assembled by alower casing and an upper casing. At least three legs are rotatablyattached to the casing assembly. The casing assembly further includes aretaining cut out. A supporting body defines a supporting surface forsupporting a camera which is pivoted at the cutout of the casingassembly. The casing assembly further includes a locking mechanismwherein the supporting body can be held at a desired angle with respectto the casing assembly when the locking mechanism is held in a lockedposition.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,290,740 discloses a portable tripod and universalmounting assembly for an object to act as a stand for a device. Themounting assembly includes a body having a support surface, front faceand an opposed mounting surface configured to mount to the supportstand. The body further defines an elongated slot extending along andinto the receiving socket from the support surface. The mountingassembly further includes a resilient retaining arm cantilever deposedin the receiving socket. The retaining arm includes a contact portionmovable between a release position and a locked position . . . in column3 around line 63 “the stand assembly includes a portable stand deviceand a universal mounting assembly for removably securing the cameraphone or object to the portable stand device via a mounting button.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,490,429 discloses a vertical fore grip with bipod, whichincludes an ergonomic fore grip/gun handle with a concealable andcollapsible bipod. One version can have a tubular recess consisting of afirst cylindrical housing encompassing the bipod legs when concealed anda sliding piston that deploys the legs and a second cylindrical cutouthousing a release mechanism and a void space for other accessories . . .the grip proportion has an outer surface with a flat surface on sides ofthe grip to provide a more stable grip, assist in orientating a mountedweapon and support pressure pads for lights.

US 2006/0087845 discloses a knife structure which has a main body and atleast a foldable tool on one side thereof and a media player mounted onthe other side, wherein the media player has a plurality of functionkeys, microphone, camera lens, a speaker, a storage device and anoutput/input device. The knife structure, provides the knife tools andcan be used as an entertaining object to listen to digital music, takephotographs and film, or make audio recording.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,669,592 discloses a camera support for mounting a camerahaving a threaded opening and an external wall. The support has a shaftand a second end and a longitudinal axis there between. Coarse selftapping anchor threads are disposed on the first end of the shaft forthreadingly engaging a support structure. Machine type support threadsare disposed on the second end of the shaft for threadingly engaging thethreaded opening of the camera. A handle extends transversely to theaxis of the shaft for manually rotating anchor threads into the supportstructure.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,079,908 discloses a camera support apparatus where acamera is supported in a position by providing a support screw forengagement with the usual threaded opening of the camera base, inassociation with a sharply pointed member, such as a knife blade, whichis inserted into earth, snow, ice, wood or other supporting materialpierceable by the pointed member. The camera support member has thesupport screw on one end attached to the tang of the knife blade by aclevis allowing pivotable movement of the camera to a desired, angularposition relative to the supporting surface.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,573,329 discloses a light source holder for maintaininga flashlight or other instrument in a desired location. The holder hasan interface unit which is secured to a gripping device such as a vicegrip or pliers. A connector for the instrumentality also is provided aspart of the combination [which] connector is attachable to the interfaceunit.

Add a vice grip connection for attaching onto rigid vertical locations.For example the multi-tool which has the stand component and the deviceholding component, in combination with vice grip pliers or other type ofgripping mechanism.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,146,667 discloses a pocket tool, particularly a pocketknife or plate like tool card, which has a housing, at least onereceiving area, and at least two functional components movable from astorage position within this receiving area into a working positionoutside of the receiving area. The first functional component isdesigned as a tool, particularly a pair of scissors or a knife. Thesecond functional component has a support casing and is equipped with arecordable and readable non-volatile memory, as well as an interface. Areleaseable locking device and a longitudinal guide are pivot bearingand are arranged around the support casing of the second functionalcomponent and the housing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective overall view of a multi-tool with prop;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the same;

FIG. 3 is a detailed cross-sectional view of the prop axle;

FIG. 4 is a perspective overall view of a multi-tool with mount;

FIG. 5 is an elevational cross-sectional view of the same;

FIG. 6 is a perspective overall view of the multi-tool with mount anddevice;

FIG. 7 is perspective overall view of a multi-tool stand with mount;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional detail view of the pivot hinge axle;

FIG. 9 is a perspective overall view of the multi-tool stand with mountand device;

FIG. 10 is a perspective overall view of the multi-tool swing leg withmount;

FIG. 10A is a perspective overall view of the same in a closed position;

FIG. 11 is a perspective overall view of the same with device;

FIG. 12 is a perspective overall view of a multi-tool with spring-loadedradially aligned V-legs and mount;

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional elevational view of the same;

FIG. 14 is a perspective overall view of the same with device;

FIG. 15 is a perspective overall view of a multi-tool with mount andtelescoping leg;

FIG. 16 is an elevational view of the same;

FIG. 17 is a perspective overall view of a multi-tool with mount anddual telescoping side legs;

FIG. 18 is a perspective overall view of the same with device;

FIG. 19 is a perspective overall view of a multi-tool with mount andsplit spring-loaded hinge legs;

FIG. 20 is a perspective overall view of the same with device;

FIG. 21 is a perspective overall view of a multi-tool with multi-angularmount and telescoping leg;

FIG. 22 is a perspective overall view of the same with device;

FIG. 23 is a perspective overall view of a multi-tool with mount and twohinge leg;

FIG. 24 is a detailed perspective view of a full round mount;

FIG. 25 is a detailed perspective view of a slice mount;

FIG. 26 is a detailed perspective view of the spring mount;

FIG. 27 is a detailed perspective view of a first locking mechanism;

FIG. 28 is a detailed perspective view of a second locking mechanism;

FIG. 29 is a perspective overall view of a multi-tool with dualtelescoping legs and component plug;

FIG. 30 is a perspective overall view of a multi-tool with dualtelescoping legs and USB mount;

FIG. 31 is a perspective overall view of a multi-tool with dualtelescoping legs and a power source mount.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present concept will now be described fully herein with reference tothe accompanying drawings, in which some, but not all, embodiments ofthe concepts are shown. Indeed the multiple embodiments may be utilizedin many different forms and should not be construed as limited to justthe embodiments as set, forth herein; rather, these multiple embodimentsare provided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicable legalrequirements. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout, thedisclosure.

A multi-tool with prop and mount is provided as shown in the followingembodiments. The multi-tool may be incorporated with multiple types oftools where the multi-tool can include pliers, wire cutters, wirestrippers, knife blades, bit drivers, screwdrivers, saw blades, bottleopeners, can openers, saws, files, razors, gut hooks, scissors, etcetera.

The multi-tool with prop and mount may be provided with just the prop orjust the mount. If just the mount is provided, to provide stability, themulti tool can be fixed to a surface utilizing a knife tool from themulti tool, or a clamping mechanism from the multi tool to secure onto astable object. For example, the mount may be provided as an object ortool component in the multi tool handle casing and positioned to besecured to the device. The prop component used may be the spring-loadedpliers of which the two multi tool handles form a portion of the pliers.Or the prop component may be the knife which biases out of one of themulti tool handles and which can then be staked into a ground engaginglocation. A description of each of the tools separate and in combinationwith one another will be provided herein. The first discussion of themulti-tool with prop 10 as seen in FIG. 1 will be provided as an initialdiscussion.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the multi-tool with prop 10 includes inthis particular embodiment a first handle 16 which has a first biasingprop leg 12 and a second biasing prop leg 14 attached on the outerlongitudinal faces of the first handle 16. The first and second biasingprop legs 12 and 14 each are connected at a pivot end 21 and are formedas a semi-rectilinear outer shell 25 of the first handle 16. Each of theprop legs has a stand end 23 which is arranged to pivot away from theface of the first handle 16 at a biasing angle 24 as seen in FIG. 3, toprovide a three-legged stand the purposes of which will be discussedbelow.

The first and second biasing prop legs are each connected at the pivotend 21 to the first handle 16 by means of an axle 26 running through thepivot end of the first handle 16 with the axle 26 angled through a pivotsurface 13 which provides a pivot plane 11 about which the first andsecond biasing prop legs 12 and 14 pivot to the standing position. Theangled axle 20 extends through the pivot surface 13 and acts as theconnection point for the biasing first and second prop legs 12 and 14.The angled axle 20 is arranged at a longitudinal axle angle 22 whichprovides for the angular prop stand distance 29.

Reference will now be, made, to FIGS. 4 through 6 and discussion, of themulti-tool with mount 30. This particular embodiment provides a mount 32which defines a mount pocket 34 for receiving the mount 32 into thecasing 36 of the first handle 16. A second handle 38 is provided withthe multi-tool as is normally the case where two handles are requiredfor the multi-tool to provide the gripping of say, for example, thepliers.

The mount itself is provided for enabling the multi-tool stand withmount 30 to receive a device 40 which may be a digital camera, handheldPDA or cell phone, digital video camera, iPhone, or other optical devicewhich requires to be placed on a stationary surface and mounted foroptical use.

The mount 32 is aligned along a radially extending mount axis 44 whichis perpendicular to the pivot axis 42 a of a pivot axle 42 to which themount 32 is rotatably attached. The mount 32 has a securing means 46which may be a threaded male stud portion on the mount for connection tothe female portion of the device 40. The securing means 46 may also be asnap, magnetic connector, or other typical connection means forproviding stand connections to the optical device.

Referring to FIGS. 7 though 9, a discussion of a combination multi-toolstand with mount 50 will now be provided. Here the mount 32 is rotatablyattached to the second handle 38 and the pivot stands 52 which include afirst pivot stand 52A and a second pivot stand 52B which are pivotablyattached to the outer handle face 17 of the first handle 16. Each of thepivot stands 50 has a length 56 which in this embodiment isapproximately two thirds of the longitudinal length of the outer handleface 17. Furthermore, a pivot stand recess 53 is provided for receivingthe pivot stands 52A& B in a stowed position. The pivot stands 52A & Bare each connected to the outer handle face 17 through the use of apivot hinge 54 which is provided at a pivot hinge angle 58. This pivothinge is aligned along a pivot plane 60. The pivot stands 52 biasoutwards at a non-planar angle along the pivot plane 60 to provide twoof the three legged stance 55 for a stable stand to resist overturningof the digital device 40 or optical device. As can be seen in FIG. 9,the optical device 40 is combined with the multi-tool stand with mount50 to provide an impromptu stand for, in this particular embodiment,capturing pictures on a stable surface.

Referring to FIGS. 10 and 11, a detailed discussion of the multi-toolwith radially aligned swing leg and mount 62 will be provided. Here themulti-tool with swing leg and mount has a three-legged stand where theswing out leg 64 radially pivots from the swing out leg recess 68maintained within the side wall of the first handle 16. The secondhandle 38 holds the mount 32 which enables the device 40 to be seated onthe mounts 32 and positioned accordingly. In this particular embodiment,the multi-tool 62 has a first surface engaging location 72 which is atthe non-pivot end of the multi-tool, the second surface engaginglocation 74 which is the non-hinged end of the swing out leg 64, and athird surface engaging location 76 which in this particular embodimentis at the hinged end of the multi-tool of the first handle 16.

The multi-tool 62 can be placed in a closed position 70 where the firstand second handles are closed upon one another and the swing out leg 64is closed into the recess 68. The swing out leg 64 is rotatable out ofthe recess 68 through connection with a sidewall hinge 66.

Referring now to FIGS. 12 through 14, a multi-tool with spring-loadedradially aligned V-shaped legs 82 with mount 32 will now be discussed.In this particular embodiment, the first support leg 86A and the secondsupport leg 86B are each rotatably attached to a spring-loaded hinge 84Aand 84B. (In an alternative embodiment the hinge is not spring loaded.)The first and second support legs 86A and 86B can be pressed togetherand rotated about the hinge axis or hinge axle 88 to be held within thebody of the first handle 16. The mount 32 is positioned on the outerwall 90 of the second handle 38 where the mount 32 is rotatable aboutthe second handle hinge axle 92 from an open position or from anengageable position to a non-engageable position. When stowed, the mount32 is placed into a mount recess 94 which is located in the outer wall90.

With the first and second legs 86A and 86B extended and the first handle16 positioned on the surface, the first surface engaging location 72 asecond surface engaging location 74 and the third surface engaginglocation 76 provide a three-legged stand for maintaining the device 40on the mount 32 and positioned in its proper direction.

Referring now to FIGS. 15 and 16, a discussion of the multi-tool withmount and first telescoping leg 100 will now be provided. In thisparticular embodiment, the three-legged stand is provided by the firstleg 16 and second leg 38 along with a first telescoping leg 102. Thefirst telescoping leg 102 is rotatably attached to the side wall orouter wall 91 of the first leg 16 through the use of a hinge 104. Whennot in use, the telescoping leg 102 is placed in parallel alignment withthe outer wall 91 of the first handle 16. The telescoping leg 102 isarranged with a outer sleeve 104 slidably engaging an inner leg 106which is rotatably attached to the hinge 104 a. Referring briefly toFIGS. 27 and 28, the outer sleeve 104 can be extended and maintain itsposition through various locking mechanisms. A first locking mechanism110 provides for a locking leg element 108 which has a plurality offemale recesses 114 which are arranged to receive a plurality of maleprotrusions 112 from the outer sleeve 104. By the user pressing orextending the outer sleeve 104 along the longitudinal length of thetelescoping leg 102, the user exerts a force to overcome the recessfriction and extend or retract the leg as desired.

Similarly, a second locking mechanism 116 includes the outer sleeve 104extended over an integral spring element 108 which provides forcontinuous friction. The interval spring element 108 in this embodimentis a sinusoidal flat bar which provides for increased amplitude or depthwithin the outer sleeve's recess for creating friction between the topwall 118 and bottom wall 120 of the outer sleeve 104.

Referring back to FIGS. 15 and 16, the outer sleeve 104 can be extendedto create the first surface engaging location 72 with the distal ends ofthe first handle and second handle creating the second surface engaginglocation 74 and third surface engaging location 76 for three pointstable support of the device 40.

Referring now to FIGS. 17 and 18, a multi-tool with mounts and dualtelescoping side legs 130 is provided. The first telescoping side leg132 and the second telescoping side leg 134 are each attached to thehinge axle 88 and positioned on the first outer wall 136 and secondouter wall 138 respectively of the first handle 16. The mount 32 isrotatably attached to the hinge axle 88 of the second handle 38. Whenattached to the mount 32 the device 40 needs to be positioned within thethree-point stability support limits which are defined by the firstsurface engaging location 72 which in this particular embodiment is thedistal end of the first telescoping leg 132, the second surface engaginglocation 74 which is the distal end of the second telescoping leg 134and the third surface engaging location 76 which is the distal end ofthe first handle 16.

Referring to FIGS. 19 and 20, a multi-tool with mounts and spring-loadedhinge legs 140 will now be discussed. Again the mount 32 is rotatablyattached to the second handle 38 and the first and second, surfaceengaging locations are defined by the distal ends of a pair of splitspring-loaded hinge legs 142A and 142B which are each rotatably attachedto a single longitudinally aligned hinge 144. In an alternativeembodiment, the pair of split hinge legs 142A and 142B are notspring-loaded with the longitudinally aligned hinge 144. With the legsclosed and in a radially aligned parallel alignment with one another ascan be seen in FIG. 20, the closed legs 146 can be rotatably placedinside of the first handle 16 for stowing of the multi-tool.

Referring to FIGS. 21 and 22, a multi-tool with a multi-angular mountand telescoping leg 150 is provided. Here the first handle 16 and secondhandle 38 act as the first and second surface engaging locations 72 and74 respectively and the telescoping leg 102 acts as the third surfaceengaging location 76. The device 40 can be supported by themulti-angular mounts 152 where the multi-angular mount 152 is built-into the first outer wall 136 of the first handle 16. The multi-angularmount 152 has 2° of positional freedom. This is provided by the radialhinge 154 which is attached to the multi-angular mount 152 and providessecure attachment to a longitudinal plane hinge 156. The longitudinalplane hinge 156 has 360° of rotational freedom in the longitudinal plane160 while the radial hinge 154 has at least 180° of rotation freedom inthe radial plane 158. The multi-angular mount 152 can be seated within amounting recess 162 or removed from the recess and positioned into adevice support position 164. With a certain amount of rotationalresistance within the radial hinge 154 and the longitudinal plane hinge156, the multi-angular mount 152 can support the load from the device 40and also provide for proper planer adjustments of the device 40 for thedesired photo etc.

Referring now to FIG. 23, a multi-tool with mount and two hinged legs170 will now be discussed. Here the mount 32 is positioned as previouslydiscussed in FIG. 12 through 14 on the outer wall 90 of the secondhandle 38. The two hinge support leg 172 has a first hinge 174 whichprovides for certain amount of angular positioning of the support leg,and a second hinge 176 which connects a first leg member 178 to thesecond distal end leg member 180. The second distal leg member 180 canpivot approximately 270° from the closed position to an open supportposition where the second hinge 176 will not allow the first leg member178 and second leg member 180 to close down upon one another.

Referring to FIGS. 24 through 26, a brief discussion of variousembodiments of the mounts will now be provided. FIG. 24 shows a fullround threaded mount 184 which provides for a wider diameter, but morereadily fits the female portion of the device 40 when securing thedevice in a mounting position.

FIG. 25 discloses a slice mount 186 where the threads 188 are providedin proper spiral alignment but the outer diameter portions of the mountshave been removed for storage space in the multi-tool. Lastly, as shownin FIG. 26, a spring mount 190 is provided for fitting various deviceswhich may have varying diameters of female mounting locations. Here thespring mounts can be diametrically narrowed to fit a range of diameters.

Referring to FIG. 29, a multi-tool with dual telescoping legs and acomponent plug 192 is provided. Here the first handle 16 has a radiallyaligned component plug 194 which can be fitted to a device 40 forexample and iPhone. They component plug 194 has the same shape of thedata plug 196 in the device 40. For example, the component plug 194 maybe shaped as a USB connector with the ability to seat into the data plugof the cell phone. A variety of component plugs 194 can easily be,provided. For example, the component plug may have the shape of a type AUSB, type B USB, a Mini-A USB, a Mini-B USB, a Micro-AB USB, or a MicroB USB. In addition, the plug may be configured to fit variousproprietary connectors and formats for example a Microsoft Xbox format,and Apple iPhone or iPod format, a Nokia format, or any other devicewhich is currently on the market.

Referring to FIG. 30, a multi-tool with dual telescoping legs and a USBflash drive 200 is provided. Here a USB flash drive 202 is radiallyattached to the first leg or first handle 16 of the multi-tool. Theflash memory 202 is seated, on a 360° hinge 204 where the USB can berotated out of longitudinal alignment with the first handle 16 forpositioning of the USB male connector 206 to the USB receptor 208 of thedevice 40.

Lastly referring to FIG. 31, a multi-tool with dual telescoping legs andelectronic USB power source 210 is provided. Here a power source 212such as a lithium ion battery can be placed into the power source casing214 to provide charge to the electronic device 40 through the USBconnection 216.

Therefore, generally speaking the multi tool has a handle arranged alonga longitudinally aligned axis, the handle has a first end and a secondend, the handle also has a housing and a first tool contained within thehousing. The multi tool also has a prop configured in conjunction withthe first handle to provide stability against overturning of the multitool when supporting a device. The multi tool also has a mount which isinter-operationally attached to either the handle or the prop and isconfigured to connect to the device and maintain the device in anupright position.

Another object of the multi tool is to include at the first end of thehandle a hinge; where the prop is pivotably connected to the a hinge,the prop being configured to rotate away from the handle about the hingeto a support position to provide stability to the multi tool when themount is connected to the device.

In one embodiment the prop is acts as a second handle of the multi tool.

In a further embodiment the prop can have a first leg pivotably attachedto the handle at the hinge, where the hinge is arranged along avertically aligned, axis substantially perpendicular to thelongitudinally aligned axis, the first leg being rotatable about thehinge a radial distance to a support position, where the prop and thehandle provide stability against overturning of the device whenconnected to the mount.

In an alternative embodiment the prop may have a first leg and a secondleg each rotatably attached to the handle near the first end and thefirst and second legs would be configured to bias away from the handleto form two legs of a three-legged stand, the three-legged stand made ofthe first leg, the second leg, and the handle.

The first tool itself can be considered in one embodiment the mountwhich can be pivotably attached to the handle to extend from a mountpocket location in the housing to a device engaging location.

In a further alternative embodiment the first leg and said second legmay each be connected to the housing at an outer surface location of thehousing and form an outer shell of the handle.

Also, the first leg and said second leg each can have a radial lengthabout at least two thirds of the handle longitudinal length, and each ofthe first and second legs can be configured to extend from a housingrecess in the handle sidewalls to form two legs of a three-legged standwhich three legged stand includes the first leg, the second leg, and thehandle.

In a further alternative embodiment the first and second leg can eachpivot about a pivot hinge located substantially at the first end of thehandle. The pivot hinge may be arranged at a pivot hinge angle in anon-parallel alignment to the longitudinal axis which provides anangular pivot plane about which the first and second legs pivot awayfrom the handle to form two legs of a three legged stand.

The prop may also be a detachable leg from the multi tool which isinsertable into a slot located on the handle and enabling the multi toolto provide overturning stability when supporting a device on the mount.

The multi tool may have a further alternative embodiment of the mountthat being a detachable mount insertable into a slot located on thehandle enabling the multi tool to provide a mounting position to thedevice.

The multi tool may also have a second handle which is interoperable witha first handle to form a multi tool plier, the second handle further hasa second handle hinge about which the mount is rotatably connected.

In a further alternative embodiment the multi tool may have a first legand a second leg interoperable with the first handle of a two handlemulti tool.

The multi tool may have the first leg and said second, leg rotatablyattached to the handle about a hinge, with the first and second legstowable into an interior receiving portion of the housing of thehandle.

The multi tool may also have the first and second legs configured withspring-loaded hinges arranged near the handle hinge to provide outwardbiasing of the first and second legs to form two legs of thethree-legged stand.

The multi tool may also have a third leg rotatably attached to eitherthe first handle or the second handle at an outer wall location wherethe first handle, second handle, and third leg form the three leggedstand.

The multi tool may also have the prop configured as a telescoping legalong its radial length. In addition the multi tool may have the mountconfigured as a multi-angular mount to rotate about the longitudinallyaligned axis, the transverse axis, and the vertical axis.

The multi tool may also have a prop configured as a first leg with afirst leg hinge interoperably attached to a hinge of the handle, a firstleg member disposed between said first leg hinge and a second leg hinge,and a distal leg member rotatably connected to the second hinge, wherethe distal leg member provides stability against overturning whilesupporting the device.

The multi tool may also have the mount configured as a threaded mountfor connecting to a standard threaded female camera mount receptacle, aspring mount, a component plug for connection to a digital device, a USBdevice, or a USB dummy plug.

The multi tool may also have the mount configured as an electronic USBpower source able to receive a portable power supply into a power sourcecasing and, provide electrical power through a USB connection to thedevice (such as a camera, iphone, ipad, pda, ipod, etc. . . . ) wherethe device is generally a digital device.

The multi tool may also have the first tool configured as a knife blade,pliers, wire cutters, wire strippers, bit drivers, screwdrivers, sawblades, bottle openers, can openers, files, razors, gut hooks, scissors.

The multi tool may have the prop configured as a knife blade to bestaked into a support location (such as the ground or a tree) to providestability against overturning of the multi tool when supporting thedevice.

A multi tool can be a combination of the above including the firsthandle arranged along the first longitudinally aligned axis, the firsthandle having a first handle hinge end and a first handle distal end; asecond handle arranged along a second longitudinally aligned axis, thesecond handle connected to the first handle hinge and the second handlealso has a second handle distal end; the first handle and second handleeach may have respectively a first handle housing and a second handlehousing; a first tool which may be a knife blade contained within eitherthe first handle housing or the second handle housing; a mountinteroperably attached to either the first handle, the second handle, orthe prop to maintain the device in an upright position; a prop having astability component interoperably attached to either the first handle orthe second handle to provide stability against overturning of the multitool combination when supporting a device.

A multi tool may also be utilized in a propping method which includes:arranging the handle arranged along a longitudinally aligned axis onto afirst surface engaging location, the handle has a first end and a secondend, a housing, and a first tool contained within the housing; arranginga prop interoperably attached to the first handle onto a second surfaceengaging location where the prop and the first handle provide stabilityagainst overturning of the multi tool when supporting a device;arranging a mount interoperably attached to either the, prop or thehandle into an upright position and connecting the device to the mountto maintain the device in the upright position.

There may also be a multi tool combination which includes: a firsthandle arranged along a first longitudinally aligned axis, the firsthandle having a first handle hinge end and a first handle distal end; asecond handle arranged along a second longitudinally aligned axis, thesecond handle connected to the first handle hinge end and the secondhandle also having a second handle distal end; the first handle and thesecond handle each having respectively a first handle housing, a secondhandle housing; a first tool which has a pair of plier jaws pivotablyconnected to the first handle and the second handle respectively aboutthe first handle hinge, the pair of plier jaws contained within thefirst handle housing and the second handle housing when closed; a propwhich has a first leg and a second leg each rotatably attached to thefirst handle hinge and configured to bias away from the first handle toform two legs of a three legged stand, the three legged stand having thefirst leg, the second leg, and the first handle; the three legged standproviding stability against overturning of the multi tool combinationwhen supporting a device; a mount, interoperably attached to either thefirst handle, the second handle, or the prop to maintain the device inan upright position.

1. A multi tool comprising: a. a handle arranged along a longitudinallyaligned axis, said handle comprising a first end and a second end, saidhandle comprising a housing and a first tool contained within saidhousing; b. said multi tool further comprising a prop configured inconjunction with said first handle to provide stability againstoverturning of said multi tool when supporting a device; c. said multitool further comprising a mount interoperationally attached to eithersaid handle or said prop and configured to connect to said device andmaintain said device in an upright position.
 2. The multi tool accordingto claim 1 wherein said first end further comprises a hinge; said proppivotably connected to said a hinge, said prop configured to rotate awayfrom said handle about said hinge to a support position to providestability to said multi tool when said mount is connected to saiddevice.
 3. The multi tool according to claim 1 wherein said prop isfurther comprised as a second handle of said multi tool.
 4. The multitool according to claim 1 wherein said prop further comprises: a firstleg pivotally attached to said handle at as hinge, said hinge arrangedalong a vertically aligned axis substantially perpendicular to saidlongitudinally aligned axis, said first leg rotatable about said hinge aradial distance to a support position, wherein said prop and said handleprovide stability against overturning of said device when connected tosaid mount.
 5. The multi tool according to claim 1 wherein said propfurther comprises: a first leg and a second leg each rotatably attachedto said handle near said first end and configured to bias away from saidhandle to form two legs of a three-legged stand, said three-legged standcomprising said first leg, said second leg, and said handle.
 6. Themulti tool according to claim 1 wherein said first tool furthercomprises: said mount pivotally attached to said handle to extend from amo ant pocket location to a device engaging location.
 7. The multi toolaccording to claim 5 wherein said first leg and said second leg are eachconnected to said housing at an outer surface location of said housingand form an outer shell of said handle.
 8. The multi tool according toclaim 5 wherein said first leg and said second leg each further comprisea radial length about at least two thirds of said handle longitudinallength, each of said first and second legs configured to extend from ahousing recess configured in said handle sidewalls to form two legs ofas three-legged stand comprising said first leg, said second leg, andsaid handle.
 9. The multi tool according to claim 5 wherein said firstand second leg each pivot about a pivot hinge located substantially atsaid first end of said handle, said pivot hinge arranged at a pivothinge angle in non-parallel alignment to said longitudinal axisproviding an angular pivot plane about which said first and second legspivot away from said handle to form two legs of a three legged standcomprising said first let, said second leg and said handle.
 10. Themulti tool according to claim 1 wherein said prop further comprises asdetachable leg insertable into a slot located on said handle enablingsaid multi tool to provide overturning stability when supporting adevice connected to said mount.
 11. The multi tool according to claim 1wherein said mount further comprises: a detachable mount insertable intoa slot located on said handle enabling said multi tool to provide amounting position to a device.
 12. The multi tool according to claim 1wherein said multi tool further comprises: a second handle, said secondhandle interoperable with said first handle to form a multitool plier,said second handle further comprising a second handle hinge about whichsaid mount is rotatably connected.
 13. The multi tool according to claim12 wherein said multi tool further comprises: a first leg and a secondleg interoperable with said first handle.
 14. The multi tool accordingto claim 5 wherein said multi tool further comprises: said first leg andsaid second leg rotatably attached to said handle about a hinge, saidfirst and second leg stowable into an interior receiving portion of saidhousing.
 15. The multi tool according to claim 13 wherein said first andsecond legs further comprise spring-loaded hinges arranged near saidhinge to provide outward biasing of said first and second legs to formtwo legs of a three-legged stand comprising said first and second legsand said handle.
 16. The multi tool according to claim above whereinsaid multi tool further comprises: a third leg rotatably attached toeither said handle or said second handle at an outer wall locationwherein said handle, second handle, and third leg form a three leggedstand.
 17. The multi tool according to claim 1 wherein said prop furthercomprises: a telescoping leg along the radial length of said prop. 18.The multi tool according to claim 1 wherein said mount furthercomprises: a multi-angular mount configured to rotate about saidlongitudinally aligned axis, a transverse axis, and a vertical axis. 19.The multi tool according to claim 1 wherein said prop further comprises:a first leg comprising a first leg hinge interoperably attached to ahinge of said handle, a first leg member disposed between said first leghinge and a second leg hinge, and a distal leg member rotatablyconnected to said second hinge, whereby said distal leg member providesstability against overturning while supporting said device.
 20. Themulti tool according to claim 1 wherein said mount further comprises: athreaded mount for connecting to a standard threaded female camera mountreceptacle, a spring mount, a component plug for connection to digitaldevice, a USB device, a USB dummy plug. 21-27. (canceled)